GIFT   OF 


No.   103 


Athletic  Badge  Test  for  Boys 


Reprinted  from  The  Playground 
April.    1913 


~TN(M\^^^ 


Playground  and  Recreation  Association  of  America 
1  Madison  Avenue,  New  York  City 


Price,    Five  Cents 


A  Crouching  Start 


A  Standing  Start 


Pui.1.  Up  (Chinning) 


Standing  Broad  Jump 


The  Athletic  Badge  Test  for  Boys 

The  Playground  and  Recreation  Association  of  America  has 
adopted  the  following  as  standards  which  every  boy  ought  to  be 
able  to  attain: 

First  Test 

Pull  Up  (Chinning) 4  times 

Standing  Broad  Jump 5  ft.  9  in. 

60  Yards  Dash 83-5  seconds 

Second  Test 

Pull  Up  (Chinning)    6  times 

Standing  Broad  Jump 6  ft.  6  in. 

60  Yards  Dash 8  seconds 

or  100  Yards  Dash 14  seconds 

Third  Test 

Pull  Up   (Chinning) 9  times 

Running  High  Jump 4  ft.  4  in. 

220  Yards  Run 28  seconds 

As  these  standards  have  been  tested  in  the  pubHc  schools  of 
several  cities  it  has  been  found  that  boys  of  12  years  of  age  should 
be  able  to  qualify  for  the  badge  under  the  first  test,  elementary 
school  boys  of  13  years  and  over  for  the  second  test,  and  high  school 
boys  for  the  third  test.  It  does  not  seem,  how^ever,  to  those  who 
have  had  experience  with  this  form  of  athletics,  that  the  different 
standards  should  be  limited  to  these  age  groups.  Accordingly  no 
age  or  even  weight  limit  is  fixed.  Any  boy  may  enter  any  test  ai 
any  time. 

Similar  tests  are  now  in  use  in  many  cites  and  in  some  country 
districts.  The  Association  has  attempted  through  a  committee 
of  experts*  from  different  parts  of  the  country  to  establish  stand- 


♦Committee  which  fixed  tests  :  George  W.  Ehler,  Director,  Department  of  Phys- 
ical Education,  University  of  Wisconsin.  Madison,  Wis.,  Chairman ;  J.  H.  McCurdy, 
International  Y.  M.  C.  A.  Training  College,  Springfield,  Mass.  ;  George  J.  Fisher, 
Secretary  of  the  Physical  Department,  International  Committee,  Y.  M.  C  A.,  New 
York  City  ;  W.  E.  Meanwell,  Director,  Gymnasium,  University  of  Wisconsin,  Madison, 
Wis.  ;,  Wm.  A.  Stecher.  Secretary,  Philadelphia  Plaj'ground  Association,  Philadelphia, 
Pa. ;   E.   B.    DeGroot,   Chicago   Playground   Association,   Chicago,   111. 


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ards  which  would  be  simple,  consist  of  events  which  are  interesting, 
and  be  generally  acceptable.  The  tests  require  only  simple  appara- 
tus, a  comparatively  small  space.  They  can  be  conducted  in  a 
short  period  of  time  even  with  a  considerable  number  of  boys,  and 
the  measure  of  each  boy's  performance  can  be  accurately  deter- 
mined. 

Rules 

The  following  general  rules  shall  govern  the  final  competition : 

No  boy  is  permitted  to  receive  more  than  one  badge  in  any  one 
year. 

It  is  necessary  to  qualify  in  all  three  events  in  any  one  class 
in  order  to  win  a  badge. 

There  shall  be  but  one  trial  in  chinning,  one  in  the  dashes.. 
and  three  in  the  jumps. 

1.  PuLi,  Up   (Chinning) 

A  portable  chinning  bar  in  a  doorway,  a  horizontal  bar  in 
the  gymnasium  or  the  rungs  of  a  ladder  set  at  an  angle  against 
a  building  may  serve  the  purpose. 

Each  contestant  begins  with  his  hands  on  the  bar.  Then 
with  his  arms  straightened  at  full  length  he  pulls  himself  up  with- 
out a  kick,  snap,  jerk,  or  swing,  until  his  chin  is  above  the  bar. 
Lowering  himself  again  until  his  arms  are  straight,  he  repeats 
the  'Tull  Up." 

2.  Standing  Broad  Jump 

Whenever  possible  it  is  best  to  prepare  a  jumping  pit  by  dig- 
ging up  a  piece  of  ground  about  4  feet  by  25  feet  and  have  a  wooden 
or  metal  strip  2  inches  by  4  inches  imbedded  in  the  ground  at  one 
end  of  the  pit  flush  with  the  surface,  to  serve  as  a  "take  off."  It 
is  also  well  to  mark  off  5  feet  9  inches  and  6  feet  6  inches  from  the 
"take  off.''  Each  competitor  is  allowed  three  jumps,  his  best 
jump  being  taken  as  his  record. 

"The  feet  of  the  competitor  may  be  placed  in  any  position,  but  shall  leave 
the  ground  once  only  in  making  an  attempt  to  jump.  When  the  feet  are  lifted 
from  the  ground  twice,  or  two  springs  are  made  in  making  the  attempt,  it  shall 
count  as  a  trial  jump  without  result.  A  competitor  may  rock  back  and  for- 
ward, lifting  heels  and  toes  alternately  from  the  ground,  but  may  not  lift 
either  foot  clear  of  the  ground,  nor  slide  either  foot  along  the  ground  in  any 
direction."* 


3.  6o  Yards  Dash,  ioo  Yards  Dash  and  220  Yards  Run 
A  stop  watch  is  necessary  for  timing  the  boys  in  this  event. 
Under  the  direction  of  a  starter  each  individual  competitor  takes 
his  position  on  the  starting  mark.  The  starter  gives  the  signal 
by  saying:  "On  the  mark,"  "Get  set,"  "Go."  At  the  word  "Go" 
the  time  keeper  starts  his  watch.  As  the  runner  crosses  the  finish 
line  (60  yards,  100  yards  or  220  yards  from  the  starting  line), 
the  time  keeper  stops  his  watch.  The  time  indicated  on  the  stop 
watch  is  the  runner's  time. 

"A  false  start  is  one  where  any  part  of  the  person  of  a  competitor 
touches  the  ground  in  front  of  his  mark  before  the  starter  purposely  gives 
his  signal.  The  third  false  start  shall  disqualify  the  offender.  The  compet- 
iior  shall  keep  his  hands  behind  the  mark  assigned  to  him."* 

4.  Running  High  Jump 

"The  bar  shall  be  a  thin  stick  and  shall  rest  on  pins  which  shall  project 
not  more  than  three  inches  from  the  uprights.  When  this  bar  is  removed,  it 
shall  constitute  a  trial  jump  without  result." 

"The  height  shall  be  measured  from  the  middle  of  the  bar  to  the  ground 
on  a  direct  line." 

"Ea-ch  boy  shall  be  allov/ed  three  trial  jumps  at  each  height." 

"Running  under  the  bar  in  making  an  attempt  to  jump  shall  be  counted 
as  a  balk  and  three  successive  balks  shall  constitute  a  trial  jump."* 

The    following   order   of    events    is    suggested:    pull    up    (chin- 
ning), jumping,  running. 

Badges 

The  Hurdler 

Designed  by  R.  Tait  McKenzie.  M.   D.,   University  of  Pennsylvania, 

for   the   Playground   and   Recreation   Association   of   America,    1912, 

Copyright  1912 

The  following  badges  have  been  adopted  for  the  three  different 
classes : 


CopjTight  1912  CopjTight  1912  CopjTight  1912 

First  Test  Second  Test  Third  Test 

The  badge  for  the  first  test  is  distinguished  by  one  star  in  the 
space  below  the  hurdler,  the  badge  for  the  second  test  by  two  stars 

♦The  rules  quoted  in  the  fine  type  are  with  slight  adaptation  the  rules  laid 
down  in  the  Official  Handbook  of  the  Public  Schools  Athletic  League  of  New  rork 
City. 


below  the  hurdler,  the  badge  for  the  third  test  by  the  Greek  word 
API2TON  below  the  hurdler.  All  the  badges  are  in  bronze.  The 
feeling  has  been  strong  that  the  badges  should  be  simple  and  beauti- 
ful but  should  not  in  themselves  have  intrinsic  value,  that  the  value 
should  be  in  what  the  badge  stands  for.  In  designing  this  badge 
for  the  boys  of  America  Dr.  RrTait  McKenzie  has  rendered  a  large 
service. 

The  Association  recommends  that  each  boy  passing  the  tests 
be  allowed  to  pay  for  his  own  badge  J«st  as  a  young  man  or  woman 
at  college  elected  to  Phi  Beta  Kappa  pays  for  the  key  awarded. 

Prices 

The  price,  postpaid,  either  singly  or-^n  quantity  is  twenty  cents 
each.  J,.. 

Ordering  Badges, 

Public  schools,  private  schools,  playgrpunds,  evening  recrea- 
tion centers,  settlements,  church  organizations,  and  other 
organizations  of  good  standing  in  any  city,  town,  village  or  rural 
community  may  use  the  tests  adopted  by  the  Association  and 
certify  on  blanks  furnished  by  the  Association,  the  names  and 
addresses  of  boys  passing  the  tests,  ordering  the  number  of  badges 
of  each  kind  required. 

The  American  Committee  on  Athletic  Standards  for  Boys 
will  pass  on  each  list  certified.  If  such  Hst  is  accepted  by  the  com- 
mittee, the  badges  ordered  will  be  forwarded  on  receipt  of  the 
money  for  such  badges.  The  Association  will  reserve  the  right 
to  test  boys  whose  names  have  been  sent  in  if  in  the  judgment  of 
the  Committee  it  seems  desirable  to  do  so.  The  Association  will 
expect  those  certifying  these  lists  to  exercise  the  greatest  possible 
care.  The  object  in  passing  on  each  list  is  so  far  as  possible  to 
make  sure  that  badges  shall  go  only  to  such  boys  as  have  passed 
the  tests  required. 

Presentation  of  Athletic  Badges  to  Boys 

The  Association  suggests  that  the  presentation  of  the  badges 
be  such  as  to  deepen  the  sense  of  loyalty  to  their  country  in  the 
minds  of  the  boys  and  girls  receiving  them,  and  also  to  impress 
members  of  their  families  and  others  who  shall  witness  the  cere- 
mony.    The  following  program  is  suggested : 


1.  Singing  of  Star  Spangled  Banner 

2.  Reading  of  Lincoln's  Gettysburg  Speech  by  the  Mayor  or 
bome  other  adult 

3.  The  boys  who  have  been  previously  awarded  repeat  to- 
gether the  following  declaration  of  allegiance : 

I  will  honor  my  country 

I  will  do  my  best  to  build  up  my  country's  free  institutions 

I  will  not  disgrace  my  city  or  my  school 

I  will  try  to  keep  myself  strong  for  my  country's  service 

4.  The  boys  who  are  now  to  receive  badges  repeat  the  same 
declaration  of  allegiance  to  America 

5.  An  address  not  to  exceed  five  minutes  on  the  subject  "For 
a  Better  America''  to  help  deepen  the  feeling  of  patriotism 

6.  Award  of  the  badges  to  those  who  have  passed  the  first  test, 
second  test,  third  test 

7.  Singing  of  America, — first  stanza  by  those  who  have  just 
been  awarded  the  badges  and  those  who  have  received  them  in 
previous  years ;  the  remaining  stanzas  by  all  w'ho  have  gathered 
together 

Wherever  possible  it  will  be  found  effective  to  arrange  for  a 
processional.  If  the  award  of  the  badges  is  out  of  doors,  the  pres- 
ence of  a  band  will  help  greatly. 

THE  BADGE  TEST 
What  It  Does 

.   fl  Every  boy  ought  to  be  physically  efficient. 

^  Specialized  athletics  have  developed  remarkable  American 
athletes  but  they  have  done  most  for  those  who  needed  athletic 
training  least. 

^  Every  boy  ought  to  try  to  reach  a  certain  minimum  physical 
standard.  Such  standards  have  been  formulated  by  a  committee 
of  experts  and  are  here  presented. 

^  Every  boy  passing  the  tests  is  authorized  to  wear  this  badge 
which  stands  for  physical  efficiency. 

fl  Even'  boy  wearing  this  badge  as  he  meets  another  boy — 
even  though  their  homes  be  on  opposite  sides  of  the  contmeni — 
when  he  sees  the  badge  upon  the  other  boy  knows  that  they  have 
had  the  same  tests,  and  feels  a  certain  comradeship. 


^  In  these  days  the  boy  who  makes  himself  physically  efficient 
is  preparing  himself  for  efficient  citizenship  later. 

^  It  is  hoped  that  once  each  year  in  each  city  there  can  be  a 
meeting  of  the  boys  who  have  quahfied  in  previous  years  to  wel- 
come those  who  have  just  qualified.  It  would  not  be  unfitting  in 
our  American  cities  as  in  the  cites  of  ancient  Greece  for  the  leaders 
in  the  city's  life  to  make  such  a  time  a  notable  annual  event. 

^  In  some  cities  the  physical  standard  of  the  boys  has  been  made 
much  higher  because  of  these  tests — sometimes  thirty  per  cent 
higher.  To  achieve  the  same  result  nationally  would  enable  Amer- 
ica to  continue  to  have  in  these  days  of  city  life  the  pride  in  the 
physical  fitness  of  her  boys  which  she  formerly  had  in  the  pioneer 
days. 


Revised  December,  1913 
Revised  August,  1916 


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